Village Project Africa Leadership Team
Margaret Lewis
As a child, Margaret dreamed about traveling to foreign lands. As an adult, those dreams came true — her journeys have taken her to over 60 countries around the globe.
After traveling the world leading tour groups, volunteering at work camps and visiting mission fields, she eventually landed in Kenya. Beginning in 1996, she volunteered at Kima International School of Theology (KIST), and in 2006, started Village Project Africa. Margaret holds a master’s degree in library science from the University of Kentucky. Additionally, she was a pastor’s wife, Associate Director of Tri-S (international education) at Anderson University, and a graduate of Asbury College.
Margaret has a passion for the people of Makutano and is investing her life in making their lives better.
Davis Otieno Reuben
Davis began his connection with Village Project Africa with the little that he had to give – a dream, a small house, a salary of less than $2 per day, and lots of hard work.
Davis leads CHERSCENT (Community Health Education and Resource Centre), the Kenyan organization that partners with VPA to provide services in Makutano.
Davis earned a theology degree from Kima International School of Theology (KIST). He worked as a telephone repairman in Nairobi and served on staff at KIST. Both places gave him the necessary training for directing the program in Makutano. In the last several years, Davis has witnessed exponential growth from his investment. He continues to be amazed by God’s gifts as the program moves forward. Davis is a humble man who leads with excellence.
US Volunteer Staff
Manages US operations and works alongside Kenyan staff
Jamie Stone
In spring 2012, Jamie took early retirement from her banking career where she worked solely with not-for-profit organizations. Jamie loves international travel, but she hadn’t specifically desired to travel to Kenya. In summer 2012, a friend took a mission trip to Kenya and urged Jamie to join her. During that trip, Jamie instantly fell in love with the Kenyan people, the children and staff at Heritage Academy, and witnessed the undeniable evidence of God’s work there. She knew she wanted to get involved with the work she saw happening and joined Margaret and the volunteer staff of Village Project Africa. She helps coordinate all of the functions of VPA while she continues to focus on development.
Mary McDaniel
Mary’s involvement with Village Project Africa began in November of 2011 when she began sponsoring a child. Fulfilling her desire to meet her sponsored boy, she made her first trip to Makutano in the summer of 2012. During that visit she fell in love with the children and staff of Heritage Academy. Her involvement with VPA has grown in many ways over the years. Mary has traveled to Kenya many times, working and doing projects with the sponsored children, helping organize the sale of bags and beads made by the village women, and working closely with Heritage Academy staff to coordinate sponsors with children in need. She became director of the sponsorship program in 2016. Mary is a graduate of Anderson University.
Carolyn Caldwell
Carolyn’s father, Glenn Falls, was one of the early visitors and supporters of the Village Project Africa program. She and her husband have had many international experiences living in both England and Iraq. When Carolyn retired from teaching accounting at Anderson University in 2011, she visited the village of Makutano and VPA with her father. As a life-long educator, she was very impressed with the work of Heritage Academy on behalf of children who might not otherwise have an opportunity for a good education. She returned in 2018 with her sister and their families to participate in a dedication of a girls’ dorm built in memory of their mother and was pleasantly surprised to see how the academy had grown. In 2020, when Margaret asked Carolyn to join the volunteer staff, she was happy to use her skills to help manage VPA’s finances.
Jennifer Rehnberg
Jennifer first visited Makutano with Margaret Lewis in the summer of 2010. She fell in love with Kenya and its people. In 2011, Jennifer moved to Nairobi (Kenya’s capital city) where she lived for 7 years, first teaching at Rosslyn Academy, then working for BlueSky Global Ministries. While living in Nairobi, Jennifer made many visits to the village, usually taking friends and students from Rosslyn and BlueSky along with her. Many of those visitors became sponsors through VPA! Jennifer returned to the U.S. in 2018, and currently lives in Louisville, KY, where she works as an elementary curriculum specialist for a Christian school system. She is married to Chad Rehnberg.
Like her aunt (our founder!), Jennifer loves to travel. Aspiring to Margaret’s 60+ countries visited, she’s made it to 24 so far! Jennifer has degrees in education from Asbury University and Georgetown College. She loves VPA and its people, and she’s happy to assist Mary McDaniel and Margaret in matters relating to sponsorship.
Leads students and staff in Makutano
Noah Buchwa
Noah began teaching at the Makutano Primary, a public school, in 2004 and quickly discovered may of the children came to school hungry and many were sent home because they could not pay their school fees. In 2014, he joined Heritage Academy’s teacher college so that he could earn a diploma. Upon finishing, he was invited to join the primary teaching staff. Now he is the Head Teacher and leads the teaching staff in the Pre School and Classes 1 through 8. He knows everyone in the community and makes sure the students have what they need to learn and stay in school. He is a humble and effective leader.
He is married to Susan Wekesa and they have 5 children and one grandson.
Chepkemoi Zeddy
Zeddy has worked at Heritage Academy since 2013, her first place of employment.
She has many responsibilities including tracking income and expenses, monitoring supplies, and overseeing the roster and attendance. She works closely with Noah and knows every child in the school by name. Zeddy knows that Heritage Academy has changed many lives in the community and other parts of Kenya and she enjoys being a part of the team working to improve the lives of the less fortunate. Zeddy is a valued member of the staff and works directly with the Director of Sponsorship to provide sponsorship accountability.
She is married and has two young children.
Consultants
Encourage and assist Kenyan Staff
Linda Thompson, Ed.D.
Linda’s life passion is educating children! She earned a doctorate degree in educational administration from Ball State University specializing in curriculum and educational technology. For 20 years, Linda led development of K-12 curriculum and trained teachers and administrators in the most effective instructional practices.
Linda admired the faith, commitment, and work ethic she saw in the Heritage Academy staff and students. She eagerly joined God’s work there partnering with the Academy staff to provide the best possible education for students in Makutano and surrounding communities. Linda continues to help Heritage use technology to support face-to-face professional development, foster teacher collaboration, and improve student learning. Linda is excited to see what God continues to do at Heritage!
Cathy Berger, M.Ed., ESOL
Cathy worked for Indianapolis Public Schools her entire career, feeling called to help children from diverse and sometimes challenging backgrounds. In her early teaching years, she taught kindergarten, first and fourth grades and then became an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher, which became her passion.
She loves working with and along side children. Her greatest joy was helping students acquire a new language and spending time with families from different cultures. She learned so much from them. When she was asked to help lead teacher enrichment sessions at Heritage Academy, she was excited to say yes. She’s so excited to be part of our committed team.
She is married, has three daughters and two grandsons. She loves to travel and spend time with her friends and family.
Sandra Chappell, M.S. Ed.
After working as a preschool and elementary teacher for several years, Sandra Chappell enjoyed a 22-year career in higher education, retiring in 2012 from Saint Mary -of-the-Woods College with emeritus distinction.
Her dedication to children and families continued with her work at Heritage Academy and in advisory roles to childcare centers in Indiana. As a former president of the Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children (IAEYC), Sandra’s background in establishing and maintaining educational quality standards through the IAEYC influences her work to this day.
In her spare time, Sandra enjoys gardening and spending time with her two sons, two grandsons, and their families.
Nancy Hoffman, Ed. D.
Education has been a devotion of Nancy’s from her early years. Earning an undergraduate teaching degree and a doctorate in early childhood and adult education, Nancy taught the spectrum of preschool, kindergarten, high school, university and adult education.
Nancy’s love of travel led her to Kenya where she saw a welcoming atmosphere, the children’s curiosity and their love for adults and each other. She now regularly visits to see friends she’s made and to help the early childhood teachers, but believes she learns more than she teaches.
Nancy finds Heritage is truly a community, each giving to the other while exploring the needs of young children and the cultural differences that color our worlds.
Board of Directors
Makes strategic decisions to advance our principles and mission
Steve Meyer, M.B.A.
Steven Meyer has served on the Village Project Africa board of directors since its formation. He is a former banker, electric utility and railroad executive. He recently retired as chief operating officer for Wheeler Mission Ministries in Indianapolis. Steven also manages several energy investment partnerships and serves on the board of a healthcare trust fund. Steven has a bachelor’s degree in business and finance from Indiana University and a masters degree in business administration from Butler University.
Karen Wilson
With a masters degree from Butler University and post masters hours in Purdue’s Reading Recovery certification program, Karen served as a reading intervention teacher for Indianapolis public and Perry Township schools for 21 years.
As a close friend, Karen watched Margaret fall in love with the school and the people of Makutano. She provided the teacher’s salary when Heritage had no sponsored or paying students in the first class of 50 preschoolers, and she has served on the board since its formation. Karen has visited Makutano four times conducting teacher training workshops.
Charles Wanner, M.Min., M. Div., Ph. D.
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